Baby Showers, Bar Mitzvahs, Quinceneras, Weddings, Anniversaries. . . those are all life events and times to celebrate.  As somber as the loss of a loved one can be, it can also be a time to celebrate the life they led and share those memories….hence the name Memorial Service.  It is a time to gather with friends and family and embrace the memories of your loved one.

We recently had the honor of helping a family plan the memorial service for the family patriarch.  This family man chose to raise his family in San Diego as opposed to his native Boston.  However, many of his children (now adults) found themselves in various parts of the country and there was still a rather large contingent of family on the East Coast.  This situation prompted the family to hold two services: one in San Diego and the other in Boston.

With all the grief that accompanies the passing of such a loved family member, it can be difficult to plan the service…let alone two.  So the family sought us out to assist them with the plans they had for the San Diego memorial service.  It was a small gathering of 50 people at the father’s home, which contained photos and awards from his days in the service as a boxer as well as photos dating as far back as the turn of the century.  It was quite humbling to be in the presence of a such a well documented family history.

Because the family hired us as well as a professional caterer to assist them, they were able to focus their attention on each other, the memories, and the stories of their dearly departed.  It was very special to hear this man’s children tell stories of growing up in that home.  They told a story of how the ducks come around every year (much like the swallows in San Juan Capistrano), go door to door searching for food and knocking on the doors with their beaks until you feed them.  Its a memory special to that family and that home that we were honored to partake in.  And when the ducks showed up at the doorstep on that very day the family, friends and neighbors all gathered around to talk to the ducks and share their own special memories.  I cannot say enough how humbled and honored we were to help this family.